Help with Netflix HD streaming...

[neemo6]

I just replaced my old Linksys wrt54gs b/g router with a newer Linksys e2500 dual band n router. I have Desktop w/ n wifi card, laptop via b/g wireless, wifi printer, nexus 7 tablet, 2 android phones, PS3 wireless in the bedroom, Smart tv wireless, PS4 wired, Xbox One wired, Xbox 360 wired, Dish Network receiver wired. I have cable internet via Comcast with 18mbps/dl and 5mpbs/ul on average. When trying to stream Netflix specifically to the PS3 in the bedroom, it rarely streams in hd, it will switch between 240p and 340p. Same thing if streaming to the smart tv which is about 10 feet from the router will not go into hd streaming. If streaming through the game systems that are wired it has a hard time staying in hd. As it goes in and out of 720p and 340p, never goes into 1080p as some movies are listed as showing. Is there anything I can do to make Hd steaming possible?

 

[Savatar]

Just out of curiosity, did it work with HD streaming on your older Linksys WRT54GS router? The way you started the question, it sounds like you might be thinking it's related to the new router?

NetFlix recommends 5 to 7 Mb per second minimum to be able to properly support HD streaming. Source: https://support.netflix.com/en/node/306

To see what speeds you are hitting in practice, try to check a speed test site such as http://www.speedtest.net Even in cases where your connection speeds are good, you may not actually be hitting those numbers depending on several factors.

If those two things look OK, the problem is probably nothing on your end. It may be that your ISP is throttling Netflix traffic specifically... it's been known to happen so you might want to try complaining to your ISP if you've checked everything else: http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Basic-...-Comcast-blocking-Netflix/m-p/1924463#M189340

Even in that case, all is not lost, though. If you are patient and have a PC or laptop, you can start a Netflix video, pause it in windowed (not fullscreen) mode, then hold Control+Alt+Shift and press 'S'. This will let you select your preferred resolution, which will override the auto-discovery. However, if your connection can't actually support the bandwidth needed, it will frequently pause on you.

Just for the record, I am supposed to have (and am paying for) up to 50 Mbps through Time Warner, but I only see around 25 Mbps in practice, and I have only rarely seen Netflix go to HD on its own... most of the times it stays around 560 or 1050 bitrate (viewable from the ctrl+alt+shift+s menu). I hope this helps!

 

[homebrew2ny]

I have multiple connections to my FiOS 50/35 pipeline and almost instantly pull 1080 HD & 1080 Super HD all the time via PS3. Something seems awry and it my very well be your 18/5 connection being saturated.

 

[neemo6]

This issue was present with the old router, which is why I thought I needed an upgrade. Yes the 18/5 speeds are what I pulled from speedtest, I actually pay for the 20mb package. Right now the only devices on are the PS3 which is about 40ft from router streaming netflix in 240p, laptop im currently on only browsing trying to figure this issue out, and the dish receiver which is wired. Anyway to test if im saturating my connection?

 

[Savatar]

Anyway to test if im saturating my connection?

If speedtest showed 18 Mbps down without a problem,... then I would think that pretty much rules out saturation. Saturation means that there's lots of other, unrelated traffic that may be using most of the available bandwidth... which would mean speedtest shouldn't be able to hit 18 down (unless there's QoS/priority stuff going on that I don't know about). There _might_ be something in the router admin UI that shows current up/down speeds, which could also help to see if it's saturated. Maybe try with every other device off, except for the one that you are testing, and also check the router to make sure there's no rogue wireless sessions on there?

To me, though, it just sounds like a service provider issue (which are indeed frustrating)... which would mean you'd have to get in touch with Comcast to see if they are able to do anything. Unfortunately, most tech support from companies like that which I've tried are largely unhelpful for the first hour or so, but if you insist that there's something going on they'll usually escalate a ticket to appease you.